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Chapter 2: Metal Riffs

Metal Riffs & Licks

 
Downloads for this lesson

What's included:

  • Tabs for all 7 riffs (PDF)
  • Backing tracks with full mix (MP3)
  • Backing tracks without guitar - just drums and bass (MP3)
  • Guitar Pro file – this is the software I use to write tabs

đź’ľ Be sure to save everything to a folder called Metal Riffs and Licks on your computer or cloud drive.

➡️ Want to check out Guitar Pro? Learn more here

Intermediate Metal Guitar Riffs: Take Your Rhythm Chops to the Next Level

 In this chapter of Metal Riffs and Licks, you’ll learn 7 killer riffs that build on what you mastered in the fundamentals. These riffs pull from a mix of styles like melodic metal, thrash, classic heavy metal, and even death metal, giving you a broader feel for metal’s subgenres and techniques.

Here’s what you’ll be working on:

  • Power chord variations 
  • Galloping rhythms that bring instant energy
  • Tremolo picking for speed and aggression
  • Hammer-ons and pull-offs to spice up your riffs
  • Riffing across strings and positions to break out of the box

Each riff brings a new challenge and helps you refine your rhythm, not just to play tighter, but to start writing riffs that feel like real songs.

Once you’ve learned them, experiment:

  • Change a note
  • Move it to a new key or fretboard position
  • Add a few notes—or simplify it

There are no rules. Just possibilities.
This is where your creativity kicks in—and your unique sound starts to take shape.

The goal isn’t just to learn riffs. It’s to develop your own signature style as a metal guitarist.

👉 When you're ready, head to the next chapter in your Metal Riffs and Licks book:
Metal Licks – where we shift gears and dive into lead guitar techniques and building solos filled with emotion, and that are memorable. 

Ready for Your Next Level of Metal Guitar?

If Metal Riffs and Licks is helping you and my style of teaching resonates with you, consider becoming a member of my guitar academy.

🔥 Want to learn metal guitar with structure and clarity?
👉 Join the Academy and Start Your Journey Here

Inside the Academy, you'll get:

  • Step-by-step metal guitar courses
  • New monthly lessons & downloads
  • Access to my full video lesson library
  • A structured path that helps you
    actually improve
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Dustan Kaup

I tried getting into a different course a few months ago, and it ended up being a less than satisfying experience.
It was way too focused on stuff I have zero interest in.
Playing the same few chords and strumming patterns ad nauseum. Mostly for country and campfire crap.
Nowhere near the stuff that I'm interested in, or the direction I want to go as a guitar player.
Then I stumbled across some Jason Stallworth videos on YouTube, and I was hooked.
As soon as I could I bought in to the guitar academy.
Started out in the metal guitar apprentice course, to start building that foundation as the kind of player I want to be.
Within just a couple of weeks I'm already working on module 3.
Jason's teaching style is awesome, and I'm making noticeable progress.
100% the best decision I've made in a long time !!